HSA Eligability

[jarant]

I turn 65 in October of this year and am thinking of applying for Medicare part A while I stay on my company HDHP.   I have a family HSA account which I believe my contribution limit is 8750 plus $1000 Catch up, totaling 9750    I currently plan on depositing 7K to my plan this year via my payroll deductions.   My 63 year old  Wife does not work and is not on SS or Medicare and is covered my my work plan.     My understanding is my limit for this year would be limited for 9 months,   (9750/12) x 9 or 7312.50 which is under my planned contribution.   Does it make any difference if part of my contribution would be made after my October 20 birthday?  IF so, do I need to stop my payroll contributions by my company prior to 10/1?  Would this be considered a life event thus allowing changes during the year?   My understanding is I can still open a separate outside HSA for my wife until she is 65 and deduct contributions.    Do I understand correctly?  Thanks

[dmertz]

Your calculation of your maximum contribution is correct.

"Does it make any difference if part of my contribution would be made after my October 20 birthday?"

No.  You have until April 15, 2027 to make your 2026 HSA contribution.

If you contribute $7,312.50 and your wife is HSA eligible the entire year, she can contribute $2,187.50 plus a catchup of $1,000, a total of $3,187.50.

[BillM223]

1. Yes, for the $8,750 for 2026

2. The important thing is the coverage you have on the first of a month. I believe that your Medicare coverage will begin on the 1st of your birthday month, hence October 1st.

3. Although "they " say that after you are on Medicare, you may not contribute to your HSA, but, in fact, as dmertz just pointed out, the calculation for excess contributions is done on an annual basis, not month-by-month. And there is a special rule that allows you to contribute to your 2025 HSA up to April 15, 2026.

4. Pay close attention to the last thing that dmertz wrote - the amount of contributions that your spouse can make is dependent on the fact that the Family limit is shared between the spouses. Since you are utilizing the larger part of the $8,750, your spouse cannot utilize more than the difference between the $8,750 and the amount you actually used for your HSA coverage limit. Note that TurboTax will calculate this automatically, but it might be a good idea to "run" the numbers so that you can check dmertz's calculation - dmertz has taught us all a great deal about HSAs, but it seems to me that $9,750 less $7,312.50 should be $2,437.50 plus a catch up of $1,000. If I have erred, I am hoping that dmertz will jump in to gently correct me.

But, clearly, the calculations are convoluted, which is why I suggest that you let TurboTax calculate it for you.

5. Note that the $1,000 catch up(s) must go to the appropriate HSA. That is, if you maximize your HSA contributions, you must put at least $1,000 in each HSA (that is, you can't put the entire amount in one HSA or the other).

6. "Would this be considered a life event thus allowing changes during the year?" This is a question for the insurance company, not a tax question.

7. "My understanding is I can still open a separate outside HSA for my wife until she is 65 and deduct contributions." Yes, your spouse should absolutely open an HSA. Also, note that an HSA belongs to the individual (similar to an IRA); that is, you don't open an HSA for your spouse, you can only help your spouse to open an HSA. Also, note that the HSA will continue to exist even until you are on Medicare and further contributions are disallowed - the HSA will continue to exist until you run out of funds in the HSA.